Updated on March 6, 2024
The word household holds a significant place in our daily lives, representing the place where we build memories, find comfort, and create connections. Its cultural importance transcends geographical boundaries, making it a universal concept that resonates with people worldwide.
Delving into the translations of the word household in different languages offers a fascinating glimpse into the diverse ways people express this concept across various cultures. For instance, in Spanish, a household is a casa, while in German, it's a Haushalt. In French, it's a ménage, and in Japanese, it's a 家庭 (katei).
Understanding these translations can enrich our appreciation for the richness and diversity of human cultures. Moreover, it can foster a sense of global unity, as we recognize the shared values and experiences that underpin the concept of household in different languages.
Afrikaans | huishouding | ||
The word "huishouding" in Afrikaans can also refer to a "budget" or "management of financial resources within a household." | |||
Amharic | ቤት | ||
The word "ቤት" also means "house" or "home" in Amharic. | |||
Hausa | gida | ||
The Hausa word "gida" also signifies "children" and "family members" | |||
Igbo | ezinụlọ | ||
The Igbo word "ezinụlọ" originally meant "the children of one womb or father," and also has the alternate meaning of "lineage, clan, or tribe." | |||
Malagasy | tokantrano | ||
In Malagasy, the word "tokantrano" not only means "household", but also refers to the physical structure of the house itself, emphasizing the interconnectedness of family and dwelling. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | banja | ||
In some cases, the term "banja" can also refer to the extended family or clan associated with a particular household. | |||
Shona | imba | ||
The word 'imba' can also refer to a group of people living together or a clan. | |||
Somali | guriga | ||
The word "guriga" also refers to a family's home, dwelling, or habitation | |||
Sesotho | ntlo | ||
'Ntlo' also means 'a married person'. | |||
Swahili | kaya | ||
"Kaya" also refers to a traditional fortified village or an ethnic community in Swahili. | |||
Xhosa | indlu | ||
In addition to its primary meaning of 'household', 'indlu' can also refer to a village or a group of people who live together. | |||
Yoruba | ìdílé | ||
The word "ìdílé" is derived from "ìdí" (home) and "ìlé" (house), and also refers to family, lineage, or descendants. | |||
Zulu | indlu | ||
In Zulu, the word "indlu" not only refers to a household but also historically denoted a cattle enclosure or kraal. | |||
Bambara | somɔgɔw | ||
Ewe | aƒekɔ | ||
Kinyarwanda | urugo | ||
Lingala | libota | ||
Luganda | amaka | ||
Sepedi | lapeng | ||
Twi (Akan) | fidua | ||
Arabic | منزلية | ||
In addition to its primary meaning of "household," "منزلية" can also refer to "domestic" or "family-related." | |||
Hebrew | בית | ||
While the most common meaning of the word "בית" is "household," it can also mean "temple" or "dynasty" | |||
Pashto | کورنی | ||
The Pashto word "کورنی" can also refer to a group of people who live and work together as a family unit. | |||
Arabic | منزلية | ||
In addition to its primary meaning of "household," "منزلية" can also refer to "domestic" or "family-related." |
Albanian | shtëpiake | ||
The word "shtëpiake" in Albanian is related to the word "shtëpi" (house) and can also mean "domestic" or "homely". | |||
Basque | etxeko | ||
The Basque word "etxeko" originally meant "belonging to the house" and is related to the word "etxe" (house). | |||
Catalan | llar | ||
The Catalan word "llar" also means "fireplace" and derives from the Latin word "lar" (altar, hearth, home). | |||
Croatian | kućanstvo | ||
The word "kućanstvo" in Croatian derives from the Slavic word "kuća" (house) and denotes a household or family unit. | |||
Danish | husstand | ||
The word 'husstand' is derived from Old Norse 'hússfanda', meaning 'breadwinner' or 'head of household'. | |||
Dutch | huishouden | ||
The Dutch word "huishouden" is also used to describe the tasks related to managing a home, such as cleaning, cooking, and laundry. | |||
English | household | ||
The word 'household' can also refer to a group of people or a particular family living together, or to the members of a particular residence. | |||
French | ménage | ||
The word 'ménage' can also refer to a group of people living together in a household, or to a set of household furniture. | |||
Frisian | húshâlding | ||
The West Frisian word "húshâlding" is derived from the Old Frisian word "hūsenhalding" which meant "housekeeping". | |||
Galician | doméstico | ||
In Galician, "doméstico" can also mean "tame" or "gentle". | |||
German | haushalt | ||
In German, "Haushalt" also means "state budget" or "household management". | |||
Icelandic | heimilishald | ||
The original meaning of heimilis was merely 'peace'. | |||
Irish | líon tí | ||
In Irish, the word "líon tí" also has a broader meaning of "extended family" or "household members", reflecting the importance of family and community ties in Irish culture. | |||
Italian | domestico | ||
The Italian word "domestico" can also mean "servant" or "pet", derived from the Latin "domesticus", meaning "of the household". | |||
Luxembourgish | stot | ||
The Luxembourgish word "stot" also has the connotation of "shelter" or "refuge". | |||
Maltese | tad-dar | ||
The word "tad-dar" may also refer to a domestic animal enclosure or a bird cage in Maltese. | |||
Norwegian | husstand | ||
Husstand originally meant "house" as in a building, or a small farm. Today its main, and only official use, is the modern definition of household. | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | casa | ||
In Portuguese, the word "casa" can also mean "home" or "house."} | |||
Scots Gaelic | taigheadas | ||
Taigheadas, meaning 'household' or 'family', comes from the Old Irish word 'tech', meaning 'house'. | |||
Spanish | casa | ||
"Casa" derives from the same root as "castle" and originally referred to a walled manor house. | |||
Swedish | hushåll | ||
The word 'hushåll' originally meant 'housekeeping' and was later extended to mean 'household', referring to a group of people living together and sharing expenses. | |||
Welsh | aelwyd | ||
The word "aelwyd" also refers to the hearth, the heart of the household, and is a symbol of family, community, and warmth. |
Belarusian | хатняй гаспадаркі | ||
Bosnian | domaćinstvo | ||
The word "domaćinstvo" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word "domъ", meaning "house", and the suffix "-stvo", meaning "community". It can also refer to the people who live in a household, or to the activities that are carried out in a household. | |||
Bulgarian | домакинство | ||
The word "домакинство" can also refer to a "farm" or a "family". | |||
Czech | domácnost | ||
The word "Domácnost" can also refer to the economic and social unit consisting of a group of people living together, or to the domestic economy. | |||
Estonian | majapidamine | ||
The word "majapidamine" literally means "holding the house". | |||
Finnish | kotitalous | ||
Although the word kotitalous literally means 'economy of the home', it can also be used to refer to the family unit or to the domestic economy. | |||
Hungarian | háztartás | ||
The word "háztartás" is derived from the words "ház" (house) and "tartás" (keeping), and can also refer to the management of a household or the act of providing for its needs. | |||
Latvian | mājsaimniecību | ||
The word "mājsaimniecību" derives from the Latvian words "mājs" (meaning "home") and "saimniecība" (meaning "economy"), and can also refer to domestic economy. | |||
Lithuanian | namų ūkis | ||
The word "namų ūkis" in Lithuanian also means "budget" or "economy". | |||
Macedonian | домаќинство | ||
The word "домаќинство" can also refer to a household's financial affairs or budget. | |||
Polish | gospodarstwo domowe | ||
The word "gospodarstwo domowe" in Polish can also refer to a farm or estate, reflecting its historical roots in agriculture. | |||
Romanian | gospodărie | ||
The word "gospodărie" derives from the Slavic word "gospod", meaning "master"} | |||
Russian | домашнее хозяйство | ||
The word "домашнее хозяйство" can also refer to a woman who manages a household, or to the duties and responsibilities of running a household. | |||
Serbian | домаћинство | ||
The word "домаћинство" is cognate with the Russian word "хозяйство" and ultimately derives from the Proto-Slavic word "*xostь" meaning "guest" or "stranger". | |||
Slovak | domácnosť | ||
In addition to meaning "household" in Slovak, the word "domácnosť" can also refer to the household budget, household duties, or the household as a social unit. | |||
Slovenian | gospodinjstvo | ||
Gospodinjstvo shares a root word "gosp" with gospod which in Old High German meant "lord" (as in "house lord" and "God") | |||
Ukrainian | домашнє господарство | ||
The Ukrainian word for “household” may also be translated as "economy", “estate”, “economy”, “farm”, and "business." |
Bengali | পরিবার | ||
The Bengali word 'পরিবার' ('household') is derived from the Sanskrit word 'परिवार' ('family'), which in turn comes from the root 'परि' ('around') and the suffix '-वार' ('one who belongs to'). | |||
Gujarati | ઘરગથ્થુ | ||
The term ઘરગથ્થુ is of Sanskrit origin and can also refer to "domesticated" or "one living in a family". | |||
Hindi | गृहस्थी | ||
"गृहस्थी" is also a Sanskrit word, whose primary meaning is a particular stage of a person's life, usually after they have spent a period as students and before the final stage of life, "sanyasa." | |||
Kannada | ಮನೆಯವರು | ||
The word "ಮನೆಯವರು" literally means "people of the house" in Kannada, and refers to family members as well as extended family and guests. | |||
Malayalam | കുടുംബം | ||
The Malayalam word 'Kudumba' is also a Sanskrit loanword and is related to the Sanskrit word 'Kudumbini' meaning 'she who resides in the family house'. | |||
Marathi | घरगुती | ||
'घरगुती' shares the root 'घर' ('home'), with 'गृहिणी' ('homemaker') and the Hindi 'गृहस्वामी' ('homeowner') | |||
Nepali | परिवार | ||
In Nepali, 'परिवार' also has the figurative meanings of "family," or "the members of a household living under one roof." | |||
Punjabi | ਘਰੇਲੂ | ||
The word "ਘਰੇਲੂ" also means "domestic" or "family-related" in Punjabi. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | ගෘහ | ||
The Sinhala word "ගෘහ" also has the alternate meaning of "a monastery". | |||
Tamil | வீட்டு | ||
The term 'வீட்டு' is used not only to refer to household but also to indicate the sense of belonging or association with something. | |||
Telugu | గృహ | ||
గృహ (gr̥ha) has multiple meanings, including 'house', 'residence', 'shelter', and 'home'. | |||
Urdu | گھریلو | ||
The word "گھریلو" in Urdu can also refer to "domestic" or "family-related" matters, or to things or tasks that are typically associated with the household. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 家庭 | ||
"家庭" (jiātíng) literally means "home of the same hall" and can also refer to a family, family members, or a domestic unit. | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 家庭 | ||
The term "家庭" can also refer to "family" in the context of kinship. | |||
Japanese | 家庭 | ||
The word "家庭" (katei) in Japanese is derived from the Chinese word "家" (jia) and originally meant "city". Today, it's commonly used to refer to a household or family unit, but it can also be used more broadly to refer to a group of people living together (such as a dormitory or monastery), or even to a place where people gather for social or recreational purposes (such as a club or community center). | |||
Korean | 가정 | ||
'가정' means both a 'household' and a 'supposition' in Korean. | |||
Mongolian | өрх | ||
"Өрх" is a word in Mongolian that has a variety of meanings, including "household", "lineage", and "nation". Its etymology is uncertain, but it may be related to the verb "өрхөх" ("to increase") or to the noun "өр" ("generation"). | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | အိမ်ထောင်စု | ||
Indonesian | rumah tangga | ||
Rumah tangga is a compound word composed of the words rumah ('house') and tangga ('ladder') which originally referred to the steps or ladder that led up to a house and by extension to the house itself and the people who live in it. | |||
Javanese | kluwarga | ||
Kluwarga, 'family' in Javanese, also refers to the 'home' as a whole. | |||
Khmer | គ្រួសារ | ||
The word គ្រួសារ originates from Sanskrit, where it meant 'family', but in Khmer it now primarily refers to the extended family unit. | |||
Lao | ຄົວເຮືອນ | ||
Malay | isi rumah | ||
"Isi rumah" literally means "contents of the house" and can also refer to family members or domestic staff. | |||
Thai | ครัวเรือน | ||
The Thai word "ครัวเรือน" (household) is a compound of "ครัว" (kitchen) and "เรือน" (house), indicating the central role of the kitchen in traditional Thai households. | |||
Vietnamese | hộ gia đình | ||
"Hộ gia đình" literally means "family protecting home". | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | sambahayan | ||
Azerbaijani | ev | ||
Azerbaijani ev (household) comes from Arabic أوى (to take shelter). | |||
Kazakh | үй шаруашылығы | ||
The Kazakh word "үй шаруашылығы" can also refer to the concept of "home management" or "domestic economy."} | |||
Kyrgyz | үй | ||
The word "үй" can also mean "house" or "home" in Kyrgyz. | |||
Tajik | хонавода | ||
The word "хонавода" in Tajik can also refer to a nuclear family living together. | |||
Turkmen | öý hojalygy | ||
Uzbek | uy xo'jaligi | ||
Uy xo'jaligi derives from "uy" (home) and "xo'jalik" (business/economy), thus it also implies home economics. | |||
Uyghur | ئائىلە | ||
Hawaiian | ʻohana | ||
In traditional Hawaiian culture, ʻohana could also refer to a larger extended family or clan and held great significance in defining one's identity and place within society. | |||
Maori | whare | ||
The word "whare" also means "house" or "building" in Maori, and can refer to a specific type of traditional Maori house. | |||
Samoan | aiga | ||
The word "aiga" in Samoan not only refers to a household, but also encompasses the extended family and community bonds. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | sambahayan | ||
Sambahayan means 'home' in Tagalog and is also used to refer to a household, a family unit, or a clan. |
Aymara | uta | ||
Guarani | ogaygua | ||
Esperanto | domanaro | ||
Latin | domum | ||
Domum also refers to a dwelling or home, which is its primary meaning in Old and Classical Latin. |
Greek | νοικοκυριό | ||
In Old Greek, the word νοικοκυριό originally referred to a lord's domain but evolved over time to denote domestic households. | |||
Hmong | yim neeg | ||
The word "yim neeg" in Hmong can also mean "family" or "clan". | |||
Kurdish | navmalî | ||
The term 'navmalî' is also used to denote domestic labor in a household. | |||
Turkish | ev halkı | ||
"Ev halkı" is also used to refer to the people living under the same roof with the same family line, or the servants working in a house. | |||
Xhosa | indlu | ||
In addition to its primary meaning of 'household', 'indlu' can also refer to a village or a group of people who live together. | |||
Yiddish | הויזגעזינד | ||
The Yiddish word "הויזגעזינד" (household) can also refer to a group of people living together, such as a family or community. | |||
Zulu | indlu | ||
In Zulu, the word "indlu" not only refers to a household but also historically denoted a cattle enclosure or kraal. | |||
Assamese | ঘৰুৱা | ||
Aymara | uta | ||
Bhojpuri | गिरस्ती | ||
Dhivehi | ގޭގައިގެންގުޅޭ | ||
Dogri | घर | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | sambahayan | ||
Guarani | ogaygua | ||
Ilocano | sangkabalayan | ||
Krio | os | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | خانەوادە | ||
Maithili | घरक | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯏꯃꯨꯡ ꯃꯅꯨꯡ | ||
Mizo | inlam thil | ||
Oromo | meeshaa manaa | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ଘର | ||
Quechua | ayllu | ||
Sanskrit | गार्ह | ||
Tatar | көнкүреш | ||
Tigrinya | ስድራ ቤት | ||
Tsonga | ndyangu | ||